GT Project - CAD bodywork, what do you think?.
Discussion
Been making some progress on my car, now reasonably happy with the basic bodywork and thought I'd see what the verdict is. This is actually version 24, and the first I'm happy to show - Solidworks has proved to be quite difficult to work with in producing good quality surfaces compared to other 3D apps I've played with before so it's quite a painful process!!
Anyway, just some screen grabs as my PC is not the highest of specs and doesn't like doing full renders, but it's enough to get the idea. Progress is now pretty much at a standstill until I can get the glass (or more importantly have somewhere to store it) to take the exact dimensions from, plus I need to get hold of the RS4 engine & a box, or at least the basic V6TT audi & box if only to take the basic dims from! Chassis work has started, but it's slow as I haven't yet sourced the ally uprights so suspension is again on hold.
Anyway, just some screen grabs as my PC is not the highest of specs and doesn't like doing full renders, but it's enough to get the idea. Progress is now pretty much at a standstill until I can get the glass (or more importantly have somewhere to store it) to take the exact dimensions from, plus I need to get hold of the RS4 engine & a box, or at least the basic V6TT audi & box if only to take the basic dims from! Chassis work has started, but it's slow as I haven't yet sourced the ally uprights so suspension is again on hold.
Mtv Dave said:
Nice!
p.s. where'd you get the mannequins from?
p.s. where'd you get the mannequins from?
Cheers Dave, Manikin I did myself, it's based on my proportions in terms of lower leg to upper leg, upper leg to torso etc etc, built using a design table so I could make it all a bit bigger to give extra clearances - the "driver" is set at me + 2.5 inches overall, to make sure I'm not going to be slapping my head on the cage every time I go over a speedbump.
I've not allocated a final figure yet, for a number of reasons, should be working on that in a few weeks when I have finalised the quantities of materials required - as the composites supplier price is going to depend very greatly on quantity.
To get it to mould stage will cost relatively little, it'll be CNC cut from insulation foam in sections before filling/epoxy coat/filling/priming/high glossing. Moulds will then be done in glass/out of date polyester (it's virtually free and perfectly workable) with a steel structure.
The body is planned to be carbon and carbon/foam sandwhich, kept very thin. Chassis is stainless steel, unless I change my mind yet again and go with ally. I'm not overkeen on ally due to the corrosion element when in contact with steel (which it will obviously have to be in many places) but the price difference and weight saving really do make it very attractive. Only main difference is I am not proficient at welding ally so would rely on my cousin whereas stainless I could do myself - either way isn't a problem for the main works but I dont want to be phoning him every time I need a bracket moved.
To get it to mould stage will cost relatively little, it'll be CNC cut from insulation foam in sections before filling/epoxy coat/filling/priming/high glossing. Moulds will then be done in glass/out of date polyester (it's virtually free and perfectly workable) with a steel structure.
The body is planned to be carbon and carbon/foam sandwhich, kept very thin. Chassis is stainless steel, unless I change my mind yet again and go with ally. I'm not overkeen on ally due to the corrosion element when in contact with steel (which it will obviously have to be in many places) but the price difference and weight saving really do make it very attractive. Only main difference is I am not proficient at welding ally so would rely on my cousin whereas stainless I could do myself - either way isn't a problem for the main works but I dont want to be phoning him every time I need a bracket moved.
actually Graham the front screen and doorglass is from a 7th gen Toyota Celica, as when I started the design I couldn't find anyone who could do it at a price that made sense!!! Having said that, I originally wanted a screen on the back rather than the inset method above, but couldn't find anything to fit, and it looked rubbish flat, so if you could put me in touch with someone it might pay to take another look at that.
The glass has still put me virtually on hold anyway - the dims used were taken from blueprints but I know they are not brilliantly accurate, I'll be purchasing and drawing accurately a bit nearer the build time.
The glass has still put me virtually on hold anyway - the dims used were taken from blueprints but I know they are not brilliantly accurate, I'll be purchasing and drawing accurately a bit nearer the build time.
grahambell said:
Using glass from a production car makes sense and Richard Oakes seems to be a firm beleiver in starting with the windscreen and designing the car around it.
Will e-mail you contact details so you can price up bespoke glass if you need it.
Will e-mail you contact details so you can price up bespoke glass if you need it.
I wish I'd started my design with a screen in mind now. I penned the idea first, then searched high and low for a screen that was along the right lines!! Was quite frustrating for the missus - every day trip shopping we'd spend the majority of it with me eyeing up cars from every angle in the car park
Look forward to the email, thanks for that. At a minimum it could help with the rear side glass.
Cheers Andy 
LOL probably will have a lot going spare, though by the time I get to that point I think you'll have probably finished and driven yours off into the sunset! Phone any local boat builders or better aircraft engineering places you have around you - many will react as though you are mad, but in reality they actually PAY to have out of date stuff removed, sometimes you can get enough to do a car mould for the price of some beer in their drinks kitty. Very much down to who you speak to and when.
LOL probably will have a lot going spare, though by the time I get to that point I think you'll have probably finished and driven yours off into the sunset! Phone any local boat builders or better aircraft engineering places you have around you - many will react as though you are mad, but in reality they actually PAY to have out of date stuff removed, sometimes you can get enough to do a car mould for the price of some beer in their drinks kitty. Very much down to who you speak to and when.
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